The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the greens are going your way. What could be better? How about having all of your old friends—or even your regular weekend golf group—by your side? Follow our golf trip planner, and you’ll be on your way to planning a golf trip for the books.
Keep your golf clubs safe for travel
Your golf trip group can protect expensive clubs from damage and reckless baggage handlers by putting them in a hard bag or using a protective extension rod.
You can’t very well play a round without the right equipment. So, whether you’re planning a golf trip to the other side of the country or simply a weekend road trip, step one is to protect your clubs. Invest in a golf travel bag—not only will this protect your clubs from damage, but some modes of travel, like Amtrak, require it (Amtrak accepts carry-on clubs up to 50 pounds). If you’re traveling by air, avoid surprises at security by calling your airline in advance to ask about fees and checked clubs. And, whenever possible, opt for a non-stop flight—the fewer baggage handlers, the less likely your clubs are to take a beating. Hard golf travel bags are ideal, but if you have a soft bag, consider buying a protective device like a golf bag support rod to keep your shafts safe if the bag is jostled—or worse, dropped. Or, if you want to avoid the hassle altogether, ship your clubs directly to your destination using a service like ShipSticks.
Save money by traveling midweek
Consider planning your golfing trip during the week to avoid crowds, save money with cheaper tee times and earn extra perks with hotel rewards programs.
Whether you’re set on hitting the links in Augusta during the Masters or embarking on a Southwest adventure in Phoenix or Scottsdale, great golf trip destinations abound. But when you stay matters as much as where you stay. Consider overlapping your hotel stay with a weeknight or two and not only can you then save money, but you’ll also be golfing on much less crowded courses. If you book a Choice hotel during the week, you’ll also earn extra perks through the Choice Privileges Your Extras rewards program, including bonus points, airline miles and gift cards.
Make it easy to manage
Use the group bookings tool to help you find the right rooms for your golfing group. Golf Resorts like Grande Villas at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, can be perfect for golfing groups.
Planning a golf trip should be fun, so the less time you have to spend hassling with travel prep, the better. Choice Hotels makes booking group golf trips—or any group trip— straightforward and easy to manage. First, you’ll figure out how many rooms you want: Does everyone need their own room, or can you double up? Visit the group bookings page for all the details you’ll need. Search by destination, date and the number of rooms for your group, and Choice will outline your options—from the budget-friendly to the more elevated. For example, the Grande Villas at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, has something for everyone to enjoy.
Pro tip: The group bookings tool allows you to make or (better yet) assign payments to others in your group, so you’re not responsible for coordinating payments or pre-paying for all of the rooms.
Make it a tradition by giving it a name—and consider a keepsake
Create lasting golf trip memories among you and your friends with commemorative shirts, towels or travel tags.
Like family or college reunions, themes and official names can be a fun way to get everyone excited. Consider starting a hashtag for your annual trip. Take it a step further and create golf shirts for your golfing group, or give everyone a keepsake like monogrammed golf towels, personalized tees or travel tags with the trip’s date and location. You can also make it a competition, complete with a trophy a winner can take home year after year. Think of it as your version of the Ryder Cup. You may just start a new tradition with your friends.
Don’t burn out: Plan a non-golf activity, too
When planning your group golf trip, use your selected golfing destination as an opportunity to take part in a few non-golf activities, like enjoying a beer festival or visiting a museum.
Eat. Golf. Sleep. Repeat. (How’s that for a T-shirt slogan?) While that sounds fun, even diehard golfers may want to switch it up for a day. If you’re golfing in Phoenix, Arizona, for example, check out the annual beer and bourbon festival. Staying in St. Augustine? Enjoy 18 holes and take in five centuries of golf history and lore at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Hitting golf overload? Change up the scenery and head over to St. Augustine’s historic downtown, where you’ll find pirate museums and Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest and largest masonry fort in the country. If you’re sinking putts in Portland, head over to the Moda Center, formerly known as the Rose Garden, to catch a game or a show. The point is, find something you’d all like to do off the course, too. For more, check out our Best Golf Destinations in the U.S.
Consider it an investment
View a group golf trip as an investment—a way to reconnect with old friends or meet new people who can open up roads to new opportunities.
Isn’t it funny how you never know how someone might impact your life down the road? Maybe that friend of a friend’s company is hiring—just as you’re ready for a career jump. Ultimately, take the opportunity to treat your annual group golf trip like an investment: a chance to reconnect with old friends and forge stronger bonds with new ones. Sure, it’s fun, but it’s also a great way to stay connected and strengthen your network.
Plan this year with next year in mind
Save money for your annual golf trips by earning points and Your Extras rewards as a Choice Privileges member.
When you book with Choice Hotels as a Choice Privileges member, you’ll earn points for your stays—good toward next year’s trip. Rack up your points for free nights and cut costs for next year’s get-together. And, as an added benefit for staying midweek, the Choice Privileges Your Extras program earns you rewards while you sleep, including coffee cards, online shopping credits and airline miles that help you save even more on your golf trips. The best news? Choice Privileges is free, easy to join and points never expire for active members.
So, whether you’re getting ready to book your first group trip or you’re a seasoned golf trip planner looking to spice up your annual event, keep these tips in mind. You’ll set yourself up for planning a golf trip that everyone will want to commit to for years to come.
Click here to explore more of our top golf destinations and cities.